Meanwhile, in the Special Vehicle category, it will be a case of make or break. A number of crews who were fancied to be among the top overall and Class A title contenders this year have so far underperformed. Among their number are reigning champions Evan Hutchison and Achim Bergmann and their Motorite BAT team-mates Brandon Harcus and Richard Leeke.

Both teams have yet to finish a race this season, and neither has picked up a point so far. They need good results if they are to claw their way back into championship contention, and Gary Bertholdt/Andre Vermeulen (Atlas Copco BAT) and Nardus Alberts/Collin Hunter (Wrapsa BAT) are in the same boat.

A win and a second have taken former South African champion Terence Marsh and Pieter Groenewald, in the Regent Racing BAT, to the top of the championship. They have a four point lead over Eastern Cape 500 winners Karl-Heinz & Quintin Sullwald (Sullwald Racing Zarco) with Herman Sullwald/Paul Helberg third in another Sullwald Racing Zarco.

Consistency is what often wins championships and this is a forte where Marsh and the Sullwald’s are concerned. The nature of the Nissan Sugarbelt 400, with the route highly technical with changing terrain and surfaces, will also suit Marsh and the Sullwald’s.

The route will also be to the liking of recently married Pieter Ruthven and Johan Boshoff (Ruwacon BAT) who missed the last event, and Mike Whitehouse and Mathew Carlson in a second Regent Racing BAT. It is also likely to be a wet race and that will also play into the hands of crews who tend to take a more cautious approach to their racing.

In terms of winning potential a couple of other crews could also come into the equation. The father and son team of Nick and Ryan Harper (Atlas Copco BAT) have yet to run into their best form while former SA champion Shameer Variawa and Siegfried Rousseau (Total Porter) are due a win.

An interesting situation has developed in Class B where just three points separate the top three crews. Eastern Cape winners Louw de Bruyn and Rudi Britz (Ruwacon BAT) edge out Bez Bezuidenhout/Johann de Bruyn (Adenco BAT) and veteran former champion Giel Nel and Deon de Kock in the LUK Afrika Truggy Zarco.

De Bruyn/Britz and Bezuidenhout/de Bruyn look likely winners but sheer consistency is likely to keep Nel and de Kock in title contention throughout the season. Reigning champion Jan Kraaij and Tiddo Voogt (Keymax BAT) have a little ground to make up and are looking for their first win of the season.

The class, however, could be thrown wide open by the Stafix Racing pair of Alistair Stubbs and former champion Marc de Chalain. With five crews all in contention the Class B battle looks as though it will develop into an intriguing contest.

The first four crews in Class P are separated by just four points. Eastern Cape 500 winners Don Thompson and Don Blakey (Zarco) have a three point lead over David and Gary White (Ruwacon BAT) with veterans Nic Goslar and Richard Carolin (Men’s Health International Raceco) a further point in arrears.

Reigning Class S champions Richard Schilling and Chris Davies (Aceco RS) find themselves in the same position as the under achievers in Class A. Two non finishes sees them lagging behind and they also need a good result.

In what is turning into an interesting category brothers Johan and Etienne Bezuidenhout (Adenco BAT) also come into the picture. As is the case in Class B it adds up to an interesting scenario with some tight tussles likely to emerge on the Nissan Sugarbelt 400 and over the rest of the season.